Fire restrictions now in place for Sequoia National Forest

TULARE COUNTY, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – New fire restrictions are in effect for Sequoia National Forest, the Forest Service announced Friday.

Forest staff are only allowing fire in select recreation sites with a valid California Campfire Permit. A full list of the fire-approved campsites is listed below:

• Aspen Hollow Campground
• Bearskin Meadow Camp
• Big Meadows Campground
• Big Meadows Winter Trailhead
• Big Meadows Recreation Rental Cabin
• Buck Rock Campground
• Camp San Joaquin Cove Group Campground
• Eshom Campground
• Far Horizons
• Fir Group Campground
• Heart Meadow Recreation Residence Tract
• Horse Camp
• Horse Corral Pack Station
• Hume Lake Campground
• Hume Lake Recreation Residence Tract
• Landslide Campground Logger Flat Group Campground
• Millwood OHV Staging Area
• Monarch Wilderness
• Montecito Lake Resort
• Powder Can Picnic Area
• Princess Campground
• Pythian Youth Camp

• Quail Flat (CSET)
• Stony Creek Campground
• Stony Creek Lodge
• Tenmile Campground
• Upper Stony Creek Campground
• Belknap Campground
• Coy Flat Campground
• Holey Meadow Campground
• Leavis Flat Campground
• Long Meadow Campground
• Lower Peppermint Campground
• Quaking Aspen Campground
• Redwood Meadow Campground
• Wishon Campground
• Evans Flat Campground
• Breckenridge Campground
• Troy Meadow Campground
• Fish Creek Campground
• Horse Meadow Campground
• Blackrock Trailhead and Stock Camp
• Big Meadow West Public Pasture
• Paloma Meadows Public Pasture
• Beach Meadows Public Pasture
• Cannell Meadow Public Pasture

Lanterns and portable stoves using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel also require a permit. Visitors can apply for a permit at a Forest Service field office or online through Cal Fire .

In efforts to prevent wildfire, all flammable material must be cleared five feet in all directions from any camp stove. Those who plan to use a camp stove must also have a shovel available and ensure that someone keeps watch of the stove during the entirety of its use.

Rangers say that smoking outside is also prohibited except in identified recreation sites. Welding, operating acetylene, or other torches with an open flame is not allowed anywhere in the park.

The Forest Service is also warning visitors not to park on top of grass because the undercarriage can get hot enough to ignite the vegetation.

Staff say that fireworks (including those deemed safe and sane), sparklers, exploding targets, tracer rounds, and other incendiary ammunition or devices are not allowed in the Sequoia National Forest or the Giant Sequoia National Monument.

Anyone found guilty of violating a fire prevention order may be fined up to $5,000, not including damages or suppression costs. The guilty party may also face imprisonment for up to six months.

Restrictions are temporary and will be in effect until Nov. 30.

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